Strut for brake-beams



(No Model.)

H. B. ROBISOHUNG. STRUT FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

No. 440,117. Patented Nov; 4, 1890.

UNITED STATES HENRY B. ROBISCHUNG,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL HOLLOIV BRAKE BEAM COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

STRUT FOR BRAKE-BEAMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,117, dated November 4, 1890. Application filed September 5, 1890. Serial No. 364,038. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, HENRY B. ROBISCHUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Struts or Posts for Brake-Beams; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a brake-beam illustrating my invention; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached view of the strut or post, portions being broken away to show the webs which extend across the longitudinal central slot of the post.

Like symbols refer to like parts whereever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of trussed brake-beams, and has for its object to brace the strut or post against torsional strain from the brake-levers.

In the construction of metallic brake-beams it is desirable to obtain the maximum of strength with the least metal or minimum of weight, and to secure this end all elfective metallic brake-beams are, or should be, trussed structures; but owing to the location of such structures when in use the power is, for convenience, applied to the post or strut of the structure, and as the brake-levers,bymeans of which the power is applied, have to be set at an angle to the beam, the post or strut is necessarily slotted longitudinally and diagonally for the passage of the brake-lever, which lever is pivoted on the post at its weak est point. As a result of such formation of the post, it sometimes happens that the strain on the pivot of the lever causes the swell or bulging of the post at that point, which destroys the effectiveness of the truss structure and renders the beam useless. This defect in the present form of strut or post occurs, notwithstanting the side walls of the post opposite the slothave been strengthened by longitudinal ribs. To overcome such objectionable features in the post of a trussed brake-beam, I have formed the post with longitudinal webs, which connect the inner walls of the lever-slot and extend from the ends of the post toward the pivot-holes therein, as far as may be, without interfering with the movement of the brake-lever.

Iwill now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates the brakebeam; B, the strut or post; C, the truss-rod or tension-rod; D, the brake-lever, and E the brake-head.

The post or strut B, which may be of any suitable metal, but is preferably malleableized cast-iron, is formed with the collar or eye I) on one end for the beam A, and the tension-rod seat 0 for the tension-rod C, and the hanger eyes or lugs c on the opposite end.

d indicates the diagonally-placed central slot for the passage of the brake-lever D, and d the holes for the pivot-pin thereof. I retain the usual longitudinal strengthening, ribs d and reduce the length of the slot (1 along its middle by transverse webs d and at, extending said webs from the opposite ends of the post toward the center or pivot holes at, substantially as far as can be done, and not limit the movement of the brake-lever D, preferably locating said webs d and d in the same plane as the exterior ribs 61 central portion of the slot d, so as to supplement the ribs d and support the pivot portion of the post against direct or torsional strain likely to swell the slot or cause the post to bulge at the points d.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a trussed brake=beam, the combination, with a beam, tension or truss rod, and brake-lever, of a slotted post having the inner walls of the lever-slot connected by transverse webs which extend from the ends of the post toward the pivot of the lever, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a trussed brake-beam, the combina tion, with a beam, tension or truss rod, and a brake-lever, of a slotted post having longitudinal ribs on its outer surface, and transverse Webs which connect the inner walls of the slot on the central line of the post, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of August, 1890.

HENRY B. ROBISCHUNG.

WVitnesses:

E. B. LEIGH, GEORGE W. RUSSELL.

or in the 

